Sport Pesa  CEO Ronald Karauri has declared that he will be vying for the Kasarani constituency Member of Parliament (MP) in the upcoming August 9 General Elections.

Ronald Karauri, who is seeking to unseat the current MP Mercy Gakuya, has however not mentioned the party in which he will run, saying he is yet to decide.

“In the course of the work that we have been doing in the community, both in sports and maternal health, many people have approached me to represent them so that we can make change together. Today, I declare that I will be in the race as their next MP in Kasarani,” Mr Ronald Karauri said.

Mr Karauri, who was speaking at an event in Kasarani where SportsPesa was donating maternity equipment, said that the country needs quality leadership that will address issues such as healthcare, unemployment, and sports.

The SportPesa boss becomes the second high-profile businessperson in the country to declare their interest in joining politics after Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja.

Tabitha is eyeing the Nakuru Senate seat in the August 9 General Election and has officially joined Deputy President William Ruto’s political camp.

Both business moguls have faced taxation issues in the past with SportPesa being forced to cease operations in 2019 after the government declined to renew its operating license citing unpaid taxes in excess of Sh15 billion.